PAGE FOUR Editorial Opinion Play the Role Fairly Many students—far more than we expected—were surprised to read in this newspaper that Penn State tech nically is not the state university. This has appeared in this newspaper before, and mis takingly, we thought it to be somewhat common know ledge. It appears we were wrong. Under law the University is the land-grant institution of the Commonwealth. In reality—but not under law—lt la the state university. Under law. however, it is a private corporation and a "public instrumentality" which receives state aid. The University has long been playing this dual role to its advantage. When it’s advantageous to be the state university, it’s the state university. This can be seen in its dealings with labor unions, claiming to be a state univer sity to avoid possible strikes. One such strike almost oc curred last fall, and Old Main was sweating it out. Also, when it goes to Harrisburg for funds, the University most certainly plays the role of the state university. When it’s advantageous to be a private institution, the University plays this role. This can be seen in floating its own bond issues to build residence halls, which the General State Authority, the borrow-and-build branch of the state government, will not finance. GSA will build only classrooms, laboratories and the like used for in struction and research purposes. It is also advantageous in raising its own funds for projects such as the chapel and Stone Valley. This dual role has its good points. It works both ways. Its advantageous to the University to play it, as we have noted, but It can also be advantageous for tbe state and the taxpayers that University plays it. This can especially be seen in having the University raise part of its own funds (through floating bond issues and alumni drives), which means that much less for the state and the tax payers to support. We then have no quarrel with the dual role of the University. Where the trouble comes in is how and when it is played. The closed meetings of the Board of Trustees is a current example of thfe University playing the dual role. Now' it’s playing the role of the private institution to avoid having the trustees meetings open to the public. This is in the wake of the state legislature approving “right-to-know laws" for state agencies. Since the University is supported mainly by tax funds, tbe public has the right to know how the trustees spend Its money. The public has the right to sit in on trustee meetings through the press. The trustees have this obli gation to the public. Closed meetings of the Board of- Trustees is an exam ple of the University playing its dual role unfairly to the taxpayers of the Commonwealth. Though we may give advice, we cannot give conduct.—The Farmer’s Almanac, 1802 UltariAii or* written %y tb* editor* tto ctaff aeaton •f tW Daitf CftUrfia and da sal iiwmrfly raprasamt Ska riawi at tke U amenity «v af tka •tadeat itody. A Student-Opemied Newspaper (HI)? lailu (Eolbgtatt Successor to The Free Lance, est 1887 PvUMwd mr*«gfa Satnrdaj ■•relag dirlst thf lairtnlty r«ar, T)t« D»lb OUefMB « • •tAdeM-oprrated ecwtpaper Entered Aft attend <rUaa fitter Ja)f k I*l4 At th# Stfttt CaUaca Fa Paftt Offic* sndet the act «f March L 1575. fttatJ s«h»fripUM PfMtt Uii Ht U.M pm rear ED DtfVBS. Editor STEVE HIGGINS. Bus Mgr. •tftaacfta* CdltM. JM? Bark boat Cfty Cdilw. Raberl Franklin Sperta Edlter. Tint* CftrAcci: Cc« Editor. If Aran ttoatty; AaaUUnt Cap j Editor. Ralph Mama . AmUUaI Sparta Editor*, Mitt Hatthewi and U« Prato; MUmp Edit at. Clot) PfctHlpft. ffteUfnph) Editor. Georg* Barrfcan. Ami 800. Algr.. ttorumeoa; Lecal U. Mn. Muflyv Eltoai last. LoeaJ Aa ate*. ttoe* Am Gennl**: Natieul Ad Mgr. Jeu Vtlltrt; Prewetiei HfU Manaenf Maim Pweacirl Mrt. Lm Glaaaltni; CUaiifM Ad Steve tftiUtoto: OCJmUtM UtrA. Pat Miernldi and Rietiard Uppot Haeird •tad Rocordo Met- Barton Wall; OffSct Smtir?. Ilartoao tUrka. STAFF THIS (SSI'E: Night Editor. Bill J&ffe: Copy Editor.. Bonnie Joae*; Vir# Editor. Hick. Kukber; AMutaots: Luo IVtam, Saady Biter. Jeff Pollack. Loltt jfcicttbariW GU»ri% Wolford*, <Jizd? Lynncttg Sgbre..«&4 Mad XcGaucbaa. r THE DAILY COLLEGIAN STATE COLLEGE PENNSYLVANIA Experts on Art Should Criticize TO THE EDITOR: I would like to personally criticize The Daily Collegian for publishing the ar ticle by Bobbi Levine which is. I feel, an affront to journalistic ethics. In stacking the deck against the HUB art show, I think that the Collegian belies its pre vious stand m bemoaning the paucity of culture on this cam pus. I do not deny that you had every right to print opinions on a controversial subject. I do. how ever. feel that in printing the opinions of people who are not qualified to criticize, you are placing future cultural programs in jeopardy. The right to criticise must be earned, and 1 do not believe that the opinions solicited from people in botany or dairy science are valid, tinless these people can convince me that they have, in fact, studied art suf ficiently to be good judges. I know virtually nothing about art myself, but I feel quite proud that I can see the works of such men as Picasso on my campus. When this welcome status is threatened and endangered by unqualified opinions of people who criticize that which they do not understand. In short. The Daily Collegian would do well to overlook the criticisms of “garage-door impres sionists” and confine themselves to differences of opinion among those who have proven their in terest and sophistication in the arts by more- than momentary dedication. —Thomas L. Menlzer (Editor's Note: Since the paint ings were exhibited for the benefit of the students and fac ulty, Collegian believes their opinions should be considered.) 'Let's Make Pool Out of Snack Bar* TO THE EDITOR: As top dogs in the West Halls Domination League, my pals and I have just approved the greatest project ev er: Let’s convert the Waring Snack Bar into an indoor swim ming pool! After all, the snack bar isn’t used very much any more . . . and think of all the guys who don’t feel like walking down to Glennland every time they want to take a dip . . . Anyway, that’s what we’re go ing to do—like I say. I'm sure all the students are behind us, so why bother to ask them? . . . —Alan Elms • Letter cut Gazette TODAY American Statiitical Aasoeiation, 4 p.m., S,* Willard Collet* of Agrieoltare Forum. Dr. Russell B. Dickerson on ** Agriculture in the Philippine*.** 4:JO p.m.. 112 Buck boat Forestry Ball. • Ballroom Freshman Townees. 12:30 p.m.. Grange Rec Room Hilt*! Sabbath Ere Service, 8 p.m.. Foun- dation Players’ production of “Banting Bright.** 3 p.m.. Center Stage UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL Razelle Stall*?, Angela Black. Carol Popet, Harriet Dooty. Anne Gardner, Don na (Tip*. Judith Norton. Janice Summers, Fundi Ghiardi, John Mahey. Robert Hor vath. Ronald Kohler. John Leasig, Henry Kwiacinski. John Goginaky. Joseph Waeh td. llicbael Sapovits. Ronald Derby, Charles King. William Kershnar, James Nsugle. Leßue StellFox. Michael Rohr bach. Arher An sari. John McCarron. Zig xr.cnd Boqucki, Prahlada Rao.‘ WSGA Forms Required Today Application blanks for Wom en's Student Government Associ ation offices must be returned to the Dean of Women’s office by 4:30 p.m. today. Applications may be filed for president, vice president, senior senator, junior senator, sopho more senator and town senator. Screening of applicants will be done by senate officers and mem bers of the elections committee. Candidates will meet at 8:30 p_m. March 3 in 215 Hetzel Union building and their pictures will be taken March 4 at the Penn State Photo Shop. Applicants must have a 2.5 All- University average and no major judicial record. Little Man on Campus by Dick BiMw From Here Over 20 Years— Without an Ulcer By Ed Dubbs Ray V. Warkins is a man no one seems to envy around here. And for good reason. He’s the reason why your eight o’clock class is in Sackett and your nine o’clock is up on Ag Hill. He’s the reason why you have six eight o’clock classes. And he’s the reason your class meets on the fourth floor of Boucke instead of the first. ‘ ~— Watkins is the University scheduling officer, a position he has held for more than 20 years—without getting an ulcer. And that’s quite an ac complishment r- - in our book, ; And, as any- ; one can see, L, he’s not the • best liked man • on campus. It , just 'seems |\ that someone j has to meet 7 on the fourth | floor of Bouc- i ke and some one has to - have eight o’clocks. Does Watkins get a lot of complaints? Well, what do you think? He thinks he gets enough. At least he says he wouldn’t want any more. And faculty members, he says, complain more vehe mently than students. It seems that faculty members, like stu dents, want all nine o'clock classes and no eight o’clocks. They too dislike Saturday classes. - - • 2 And the students aren't the only ones who complain about having an eight o'clock class in Sackeil and a nine o'clock class up on Ag Hill The fac ulty does 100. Just ask Wat kins. And as for coffee breaks, many faculty members want them too. while others would FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 28. 1953 prefer three classes together all in the same building, of course. And does Watkins hear it from faculty members when there’s a slip up! Sometimes, he admits, small classes get in large rooms and large classes get in small rooms. Sparks. Walkins says, is the most popular building for mojst faculty members. However, they all like to have their classes in the building in which their office is located. And faculty members, Wat kins says, come up with dandy excuses as to why they can’t meet this class at this time at this place. The excuses would rival any a student could dream up, he says. One _ faculty member once told him he couldn’t take an eight o’clock class on Monday mornings because his wife made him do the family.wash. When we stopped by his office the other day, Watkins was busy at work on the final examination schedule. That 100 is one of his jobs, in addition to preparing the timetable and working with the registration in Hec Hall. He also has the difficult task of making up the conflict examination schedule. What does -Watkins think of his job? He puts it this way: “I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy—but I enjoy it" VW»tM «M<
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